After 33 years, Farah's is closing

Published: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 5:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 5:35 p.m.

Farah's on the Avenue will close after 33 years on Sept. 14 so owner Nick Farah Jr. can concentrate on his new wholesale Mediterranean food manufacturing operation and family catering business in Jacksonville.

Farah said a Chinese restaurant called the Small China House with an owner from Jacksonville will do a $120,000 remodel before opening in his location at 1120 W. University Ave.

He said his mother has been trying to get him to come to Jacksonville where the family has a catering operation since his father died last year. Earlier this year, he also opened Farah's Mediterranean Foods, which provides falafel burgers to 36 institutional restaurants in the Jacksonville area, and he is working on a deal to provide packaged falafel, hummus and tabouleh to grocery stores.

Farah cited other reasons for closing, specifically “unchallenged GRU commercial rates for the last 10 years” and a growing number of corporate restaurants on the University of Florida campus.

“We just found ourselves in a situation where we don't see the growth potential competing against the university right now,” he said.

Farah said he will keep a Gainesville residence.

“Gainesville will always be home. My kids were born and raised here.”

Daily Green

Daily Green opened a couple weeks ago in the former Louis' Lunch at 436 SE Second St.

Co-owner John Arana said they offer mostly organic food for people on the go, providing a quick and healthy alternative for people working downtown who don't have a lot of time for lunch. It is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The menu includes soups and salads, sandwiches, waffles and waffle cones. Arana said the most popular items seem to be the pulled pork and meatball stuffed waffle cones for meat eaters and tempeh and seitan offerings for vegans and vegetarians.

Arana has invested in downtown for over a decade and has a construction company with his brother that did the renovations.

Cymply Fresh bistro

Brad Brooks will be closing the Cymple Gardens nursery after business Sept. 7 to prepare to open the Cymply Fresh bistro in November.

The bistro in Green Market Plaza at 5402 NW Eighth Ave. will offer sandwiches, salads and soups from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with food grown on site by Buchholz High School students, he said.

Brooks operated Cymple Gardens and its predecessor Gardener's Edge for more than eight years.

<p>Farah's on the Avenue will close after 33 years on Sept. 14 so owner Nick Farah Jr. can concentrate on his new wholesale Mediterranean food manufacturing operation and family catering business in Jacksonville.</p><p>Farah said a Chinese restaurant called the Small China House with an owner from Jacksonville will do a $120,000 remodel before opening in his location at 1120 W. University Ave.</p><p>He said his mother has been trying to get him to come to Jacksonville where the family has a catering operation since his father died last year. Earlier this year, he also opened Farah's Mediterranean Foods, which provides falafel burgers to 36 institutional restaurants in the Jacksonville area, and he is working on a deal to provide packaged falafel, hummus and tabouleh to grocery stores.</p><p>Farah cited other reasons for closing, specifically “unchallenged GRU commercial rates for the last 10 years” and a growing number of corporate restaurants on the University of Florida campus.</p><p>“We just found ourselves in a situation where we don't see the growth potential competing against the university right now,” he said.</p><p>Farah said he will keep a Gainesville residence.</p><p>“Gainesville will always be home. My kids were born and raised here.”</p><p><b>Daily Green</b></p><p>Daily Green opened a couple weeks ago in the former Louis' Lunch at 436 SE Second St.</p><p>Co-owner John Arana said they offer mostly organic food for people on the go, providing a quick and healthy alternative for people working downtown who don't have a lot of time for lunch. It is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.</p><p>The menu includes soups and salads, sandwiches, waffles and waffle cones. Arana said the most popular items seem to be the pulled pork and meatball stuffed waffle cones for meat eaters and tempeh and seitan offerings for vegans and vegetarians.</p><p>Arana has invested in downtown for over a decade and has a construction company with his brother that did the renovations.</p><p><b>Cymply Fresh bistro</b></p><p>Brad Brooks will be closing the Cymple Gardens nursery after business Sept. 7 to prepare to open the Cymply Fresh bistro in November.</p><p>The bistro in Green Market Plaza at 5402 NW Eighth Ave. will offer sandwiches, salads and soups from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with food grown on site by Buchholz High School students, he said.</p><p>Brooks operated Cymple Gardens and its predecessor Gardener's Edge for more than eight years.</p>